Rather may subpoena Asshat !!!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2007/9/26/Rather-chokes-up-and-hunkers-down

Rather chokes up, and hunkers down
September 26, 3:01 PM

"I'm not in this -- mostly -- with anybody else."



Former "Evening News" Dan Rather choked back tears on several occasions today when discussing his decision to file a lawsuit against CBS and he left many audience members with a sense that he may call President George W. Bush as a witness should the lawsuit proceed to trial (and Rather said he hoped it would).

When asked by Carol Joynt, host of the "Q&A Café" held at Nathans restaurant who worked with Rather at CBS in the 1970s, whether "he'd like to" call President Bush as a witness in the trial, Rather said "I'd like not to answer the question," leaving both Joynt and audience members wondering whether the newsman has Bush in his sights." Joynt later told Yeas & Nays, "From the look in his eye -- and he gave me a definite Ratheresque look -- I got the impression he will call the president as a witness. Possibly both of them: 41 and 43. He implied the suit is not against them, but what the suit is about stems directly from his antagonistic relationship with them."

In the lawsuit, Rather claims he was unjustifiably squeezed out of CBS by network executives following a 2004 story about President Bush’s service record in the Texas Air National Guard. After evidence emerged that the story’s primary documents were possibly faked or forged, Rather stated on air that “if I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.”

Joynt asked Rather if he believes the president hates him, and Rather responded by saying that "hate is a strong word." Then, he began to well up. "You've never met anybody who had more respect for the presidency than I do," said Rather, choking back tears. He stood by his 2004 story, saying "we got the truth, but we left ourselves vulnerable."


Rather also grew emotional when he revealed that many of his family members and "people who love me very dearly" had urged him not to file the lawsuit. He ultimately rejected their advice, comparing it to difficult decisions he's made in the past about traveling to travel to war zones over his family's objections. There comes a time, Rather said, when you have to say "it's just time to go." Rather later admitted that "I'm not in this -- mostly -- with anybody else."

More than a few eyebrows were raised when Rather said, "I have no complaints, news is a contact sport." Joynt quickly interjected, "Yeah but so are lawsuits." Still, Rather insisted that his lawsuit is not born out of resentment: "I'm not angry, I'm not bitter -- never have been. I'm a reporter … and this is a story." He denounced the "interference, intimidation and manipulation in newsrooms" caused largely by the corporatization and consolidation of news outlets and said that, despite the largely negative response his lawsuit has received in the court of public opinion, "people might come around when they find out what really went on."

[Ian David]

1. Thanks to The Clinton Precedent, he can do that now. n/t

[librechik]

4. and thanks to Cheney, Bush can ignore a subpoena.

Watching anxiously, (not holding breath)

[H2O Man]

11. Respectfully disagree.

Very different contexts. This would be closer to Clinton being called for a civil case. The Cheney situation has to do with executive business.

[librechik]

14. I know, of course that it would not be a legitimate excuse--I'm just sayin'

that the whole unitary theory has got these guys thinking they can ignore subpoenas over anything and everything.

[H2O Man]

16. Unless someone

presses the issue, and makes sure there are consequences, you are indeed right -- because these people have no respect for the rule of law. None. But Mr. Rather is in a position where he can force their hand.

[librechik]

17. I so hope so! We very much need this depositive power somehow

ack. Got me hoping again.

Do we know anything about the judge who decides if the suit goes forward? I have agloomy attitude for that, too (after Plame)

[H2O Man]

18. It will

go forward. The Plame civil case (which still could) was/is facing a very different set of circumstances, in that the Wilsons were attempting to sue members of the executive branch for actions that were done "on the job." Rather is going after his employers, who appear to have taken some actions that coordinated with government officials' desires. The case that Rather has filed was not put together quickly in order to beat a filing deadline. It is a serious effort that threatens to open a lot of doors that the corporate media and corporate government want closed. I do not think there is any realistic chance of it not moving ahead.

[Hydra]

2. Wouldn't that be something

It will never happen, but imagine an impeachment based on perjury...sound familiar? There's not way 43 could answer honestly and completely without revealing that he was a cokehead and a deserter.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Wouldn't it be great if Rather somehow had a tape of AssHat

calling some bigwig at CBS. Busted!

All the shit AssHat's done i still can't believe there are no cold hard facts that can go to court.

[Hydra]

13. Oh, you can bet there are a few solid pieces of evidence here and there

43 has done too many illegal things for the cleaning crew to be 100% efficient. The problem is that he's made it clear what happens if he sees any of those things on the nightly news...the alternatives he really doesn't care about. We in the know probably constitute 1% of america, at best.

Can't have Dan Rather reporting it, though. That might catch like brushfire.

[BOSSHOG]

3. bush should have no objection to testify

Surely he would not object to raising his right hand and swearing to tell the truth then be questioned about his military service and attendance at Reserve Drills. He is an honorable man isn't he? I'll check with my neocon neighbors, they'll set me straight.

Please dan subpoena the monkey before he disappears to Paraguay.

[shenmue]

5. Ha hah! Go get 'em, Dano!

:patriot:

[robinlynne]

6. How sad that he feels he has gotten a negative response. We need to let him know

how strongly we support him.

[Mind_your_head]

7. Paging Dan Rather....Paging Dan Rather.....Mr. Kipling has a few words for you...

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

--------------------------

Listen to your conscience and do the "right thing". The world is filled with friends you haven't met yet.

[SoCalDem]

9. As much as I feel for him, I cannot help but think that he had his chance

and he blew it.. The STORY was how the Bushies were hiding stuff and being evasive and combative..

As soon as the shot hit the fan, he could have done a "Howard Beale" and blown the lid off the whole thing, exposing CBS's complicity, but he tucked his tail and was a "good little doggie"..

he was in a unique position to tell it straight, but he somehow felt that protecting his salary (probably un-needed anyway), so now, many months later he decides to fight.. Its too late Dan-o.. chalk it up to experience.. you no longer have the center stage, and anything you say now is not going to matter much.. You had the chance to be brave and spill your guts, but you waffled....Pass the syrup..

[smalll]

10. "Rather may subpoena Asshat, according to a 'look in his eyes.'"

That might be a better headline for you. Don't be a Lucy!

[provis99]

12. I don't like that he "respects the Presidency"

That's like saying you respect the Bureaucracy. The Presidency is simply an instrument of power temporarily given to one among the citizenry. Rather should have said he believes that the Presidency should respect the citizenry.

[Buzz Clik]

15. He won't.